Guest article by Andrea Schäuble.
The anticipation is great, the nursery is planned and prepared with lots of love. And then everything happens very quickly. The baby is here and the time to worry about keeping the house in order seems to disappear into thin air. To ensure that not only the beautiful new nursery but also the rest of the rooms in the house remain tidy, you can take a few precautions during the pregnancy.
Everything in its place
A basic principle of any order is that every item in the household has a home: a fixed address to which it is returned after use. That way, nothing gets lost and everyone knows where to find what. And to make sure that everyone knows the address, labeling helps. Whether with simple labels or professional labeling machines. Label shelves in the kitchen, in the cupboards, the boxes in the basement, etc. It's best to do this together and you might discover things that you can quickly clear out.
Avoid climbing and crawling
In almost every household there are hard-to-reach places in the cupboards that are almost impossible to get to without acrobatic feats. Take a look at what items you use often and which are not so easy to reach and move them around. It is best to store the items you use every day at the front, at eye/handle height . The fondue set can be moved to the back of the cupboard.
Make room for bottles & co.
You will need space for baby utensils, especially in the kitchen. It is best to think about where you can clear a suitable area now. Perhaps you need one or two kitchen appliances so rarely that they can be stored in a cupboard.
Speaking of spaces. Don't be afraid of empty spaces . They will fill up on their own. The more space you create now, the less chaotic it will be when the new citizen of the world enriches your life. So it's definitely worth clearing out as much as possible before the birth.
Self Check
We all have our quirks when it comes to organizing . One person leaves their shoes in the middle of the hallway, another piles up clothes in all sorts of places. From now on, pay careful attention to yourself. Where do you leave things lying around that could be tidied away straight away? What are you constantly looking for and are annoyed by? Find a permanent place for it. If you can get one or two of your quirks under control, things will go more smoothly with a baby.
Happy 15 minute routine
Even if it may sound boring, routines are extremely helpful and effective. If used regularly, it doesn't take much time to establish a rough order, even in hectic moments. Instead of happy hour , 15 minutes a day will help you be happy . Grab a container (basket, bag, box...) and go around your rooms. Pack up everything that isn't in its place. Then put each item from the box back in its place. 15 minutes is enough for that. Put some music on and off you go.
If you live in a house, it's worth parking a transport container on the stairs. Simply put everything you want to take to the other floor in there and take the whole basket with you on your next trip.
Ensure a good morning in the evening
Another routine that is worth practicing now is the evening routine . Who hasn't experienced it: too tired and worn out to clean up the kitchen in the evening? Try cleaning up the kitchen every evening - it's a great way to take turns. You'll notice how great it is to come into a tidy kitchen in the morning and start the day in a great mood. This can also be applied to other areas if you're already a professional kitchen cleaner.
Let us give you meaningful gifts
Grandma, grandpa, aunts and uncles are waiting in the wings to give your baby presents. To avoid getting lost in too many rompers and toys, you can also ask for time or vouchers . Vouchers for your favorite drugstore to cover diaper needs. Time to help you with household chores in the early days. Think about what you really need for your baby and communicate that to those around you.
about the author
Andrea Schäuble lives and works part-time as Die Freiräumerin in Berlin. Under the motto "Give your room more life and your life more space", she motivates people on their way to their personal sense of well-being.
